Homemade Ginger Ale

Try this healthy, simple-to-make ginger ale recipe. It’s naturally gluten-free and you can sweeten it however you choose.

It’s been HOT in Dallas…over 100 for 25+ days now. The blinds are closed. The AC is working overtime. No one goes outside for any length of time except for the rare fanatical jogger who just can’t help himself.

I have been holding out on this recipe for at least two months. I usually drink it before I can get a picture and, honestly, I hate to take pictures of drinks. They never look as good as I want them to.

Enough about my photographic insecurities…

Ginger has so many health benefits. It will soothe an upset stomach, aid digestion, and can prevent motion sickness. If you’re joints are achy, you might find some relief from regular doses of ginger. A little under the weather? Ginger can help boost your immune system, too.

It also tastes great. I love the spiciness of this homemade ginger ale – it’s suprisingly refreshing on a hot summer day.

Ginger root is sold in the produce section. I didn’t peel it but if you choose to, use the edge of a spoon to scrape the light brown exterior off. The spoon will easily get into the nooks and crannies of the spicy root. Find lemongrass in the fresh herb section. Sometimes it’s in a long stalk; other times it’s chopped into pieces and placed in a container. Don’t worry if you can’t find lemongrass – it’s optional.

Let’s talk sweeteners – I choose to drink this unsweetened or with a little stevia. Like I said earlier, sweeten this however you choose. My personal preference is to not add calories to my beverages with agave nectar, coconut palm sugar, or honey except for the occasional treat. I don’t count calories but they can add up oh-so-quickly.

Love ginger as much as I do? Try these other gluten-free ginger recipes:

Put the sliced ginger and lemongrass pieces into a 4-quart saucepan. Cover with filtered water. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 1 hour – 1 hour 30 minutes. The longer it steeps, the spicier it gets.

Strain into a 1-quart mason jar, discarding ginger and lemongrass. Cover and chill.

To serve, combine 1 part ginger syrup and 3 parts Pellegrino and add ice. Sweeten to taste with stevia and add a lime wedge.

I don't think I've really drunk ginger ale but this looks good, Amy! I hear you on photographing drinks, it can be tricky, though I'm learning and even gaining preferences as to how I photograph them - enough to even feel confident about giving tips sometimes. (I did so some time ago on Twitter with Maggie of She Let Them Eat Cake.) I'll have to do my own food photography post someday with all my tips.

I feel the same way about pictures, I usually eat things before I have had time to take the pic, hahaha, Another thing that happens to me, is that some times i can't take pictures with sunlight... and they look awful if i do not take them during the day.
I love ginger. I just made a ginger-maple ice-cream a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn't stop eating

Yum! I love ginger ale. I am always shocked when I order it at a restaurant or bar and the server unabashedly trots out half Coke/half Sprite, as if that's anywhere close to what I'm expecting. Turkeys...

Amy, your pictures turned out beautiful!
I LOVE Ginger Ale... My dad was a pilot for AA for 32 years and I am flight attendant...needless to say I have been on airplanes ALL my life and my drink of choice has always been Ginger Ale... an airplane vacation just never seems right without one! However, I haven't had a soda (or coke, where I'm from) in over 15 years!!!!! I can't wait to try this recipe... I had fresh ginger in the fridge (I use it daily in some sort of beverage already, usually ginger mint mocktails!) and I immediately cut it up and have it steeping right now!!!!
Thanks so much for your creativity!

Wow, I love ginger ale! You're right about it being super hot here in Texas. Can't wait to try this.
BTW--according to nutrition data, ginger root is highly anti-inflammatory! http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2447/2
Lowering inflammation in the body is a great way to decrease bodily heat, if only by a little bit. Every bit helps, in my opinion. :)

Now why didn't I think of this??? I haven't had ginger ale in years because the ones you can buy contain either sugar or artificial sweeteners. I've been guzzling iced ginger-mint tea the past few weeks, which is great, but something a little different sounds even better! I can't wait to try this. And your photo is lovely! :D

@Ricki, I often wonder the same thing when I look at your recipes, Ricki. :) We've got a new stevia sweetened soda line in the States called Zevia...I haven't been moved to buy any yet. Have you seen it in Canada?
Hugs,
Amy

Don't know if you'd had the chance to try Zevia yet, but it's a favorite at our house! The ginger ale and the ginger root beer are personal favorites, along with their black cherry. I've been wanting to find a good stevia-sweetened recipe for ginger ale ever since I got a Soda Stream a couple of years ago. Yours looks like a great recipe! Thanks, Amy!

Yum! My husband especially loves ginger. Ginger Beer has been a treat for us to indulge in as we've been traveling in New Zealand, so I'm excited to make my own (healthy) Ginger Ale when we get back home!

This looks so refreshing and healthy! I don't drink soft drinks however every once in a while during the holidays I might have a toast with ginger ale. This will certainly be MY new brew! Thanks Amy for another summer delight!

I have made one batch so far - omitted lemongrass since the store I went to did not stock it. (Will go elsewhere next shopping trip). I ended up doing a 2:1 for sparking water: syrup and I found it much more satisfying that way. Could be my tastebuds or else that I'm used to spicy ginger ale?? Either way, it was super refreshing indeedy. Thanks!

@Heidi, That's the great thing about this recipe...you can make it stronger or weaker to suit your tastes. My ginger ale at 1:4 was really spicy - my syrup could have been stronger. The important thing is that you found what works for you. :)
Hugs,
Amy

Just stumbled upon your blog while searching for sugar free ginger beer recipes. This sounds really easy and refreshing, can't wait to give it a try and peruse your blog! (My husband is diabetic - so always looking for good SF recipes the whole family will enjoy!)

Hi, LOVE your site and recipes!!!! This recipe sounds so yummy as i love ginger and lemongrass!! My son is hooked on soda and drinks it everyday! I know that it is no good. so i need to come up with drink alternatives. i am really concerned for my son. he goes for several days without drinking water. and just drinks soda and milk. he's twenty two years old so trying to control what he drinks is a challenge!! If it doesn't taste good he will not drink it! no reguard for health issues. so i think if i come up with good tasting, good for you, i might stand a chance to show him drinks can taste good and be good for you. any more suggestions? Thanks, Theresa

this looks fabulous - I am trying to cut out all diet sodas - tricky for me! I have a batch steeping on the stovetop as we speak and will use it with soda water from my Soda Stream.
Looking forward to making mine super spicy and NOT buying any more diet gingerale from the store! Thanks for the creative recipe.

You are so god send! I have been trying to lose weight and get off sugary sodas. Though Splenda (Sucralose) based sodas are available, the stuies on Sucralose are still inconclusive. This ginger ale is so easy to make and so tasty that its unbelievable. Used stevia powder (the bulk stevia powder from Amazon). I didn't include the lemongrass, but without it itself, this one is a rocker! This even makes me not crave ice cream/sugary dessert, which I crave every night. Thanks a lot!

We were given a Sodastream as a gift (in case you are not familiar with it, it carbonates your own tap water). I have been looking for a way to make a low-alcohol (or no alcohol) ginger beer for a while so was very pleased to find your recipe.
I minced up the ginger in a food processor, added water and brought to the boil and left to steep overnight. I made it a bit stronger than your recipe as I have 14 oz ginger root and wanted to make the same amount (1 litre).
It's brilliant! somewhere between 2 teaspoons and two tablespoons of ginger extract added to a glass of fizzy water to suit personal taste works a treat. I usually add a slice of lemon to serve.
Thank you very much for this very simple but lovely recipe!
BTW - I am now trying to lose some weight so this will work very well, it must be close to zero calories!!

About Amy

Living free of refined sugars and gluten since 2004 has allowed me to live a fulfilled, healthy life. My food cravings, migraines, and depression vanished and was able to maintain a 60+ pound weight loss. Today I live with enormous freedom. Join me as I create healthier food that's delicious. I'll help you do the same.